Aspiring local actress on ‘Let’s Make a Deal’; her show will air Tuesday

Dixon native Courtney Moore, 31, now of Hollywood, as a contestant on the long-running TV game show "Let's Make a Deal." Her appearance airs Tuesday.

BY KIRAN SOOD
ksood@saukvalley.com
800-798-4085, ext. 529

DIXON – Courtney Moore knew she needed to do something to stand out. She wanted her chance in the spotlight.

“I made my costume the night before,” the Dixon native said. “I ran to Michaels [craft store]. I wrote on the front of my shirt: ‘Give me a stinkin’ deal.’ I dressed up as a skunk.”

Her funny, wild costume did the trick. Moore, 31, now living in Hollywood, was called on to be a contestant on “Let’s Make a Deal.”

Her appearance airs Tuesday.

Moore is a 2000 Dixon High graduate who studied art for 2 years at Sauk Valley Community College, then became a certified nursing assistant and worked at KSB Hospital for 5 years.

She moved to California 6 months ago to pursue an acting career. So far, it’s been pretty exciting.

Taping the game show “was a blast,” she said. “You’re in there with a bunch of people dressed up in costume. They want to pick exciting people, [someone who is] not just going to be like a bump on a log.”

Moore won a prize, but isn’t allowed to say what it is, zonk or otherwise, before the show airs.

Meeting Wayne Brady discombobulated her a bit.

“If you do get called up, pay attention to what you’re saying, don’t act like an idiot,” Moore recalled producers telling the audience members. “I got up there, and I did. He told me what I was supposed to do. He goes: ‘Listen to what I’m saying.’ It was pretty funny.”

Moore has had other brushes with fame. She’s friends with the bass player for musician Taio Cruz, and so got tickets to the Grammys. She sat directly behind Gotye, who won a Grammy.

She has also starred in commercials for NASCAR and for a rehabilitation facility. Just after the Super Bowl, she was a band member in a Jello commercial.

When she’s not acting, Moore, the daughter of Stephen and Linda Moore of Dixon, works for Celebration Entertainment, which does birthday parties for the children of celebrities.